Keep hope alive: Tiger could play in Houston next year

Say what you want about Woods, but the buzz at the Shell Houston Open would be unprecedented should he decide to play here in 2013.

Since the SHO has been moved from one week before the Masters, where it has been for several years, to two weeks prior for next season, the door is now open for Woods to make his first appearance at the SHO. Next year, the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio will be the lead-in to Augusta.

Could there be a Tiger sighting in Houston for the first time? It's a possibility. (Chris O'Meara/AP)

“Been following the slight change in Tour dates, but we have yet to assess how that will affect Tiger’s early ’13 schedule,” Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg told me via e-mail. “There are a number of factors that play into Tiger’s schedule, so it would be very premature to speculate.”

Playing in the SHO is certainly possible, as Woods prefers to play in tournaments two weeks prior to majors. Only three times in his 16 Masters’ appearances as a professional did Woods not play in a tournament two weeks prior to going to Augusta National.

In 2002 he won the first major of the year after taking the prior two weekends off. In 2008, he finished second at Augusta with a similar break, though he played in the two-day Tavistock Cup the Monday and Tuesday after his previous tournament. And in 2010, The Masters was his first tournament of the year, as injuries and personal issues kept him out of play for six months.

Because of the move from the week before the Masters, where it had gained some serious traction, the SHO will face unusual challenges next year, especially since it will be on Easter Weekend.

I don’t think it will hurt the field as much as some others tend to believe. Players like the Houston stop and there simply isn’t a better prep for those nasty Masters greens than Redstone.

Don’t be surprised if more top players still want to come here to play on Augusta National-like greens, but choose to skip the Texas Open the following week to practice for the Masters. Also, the SHO will be the final opportunity for those still trying to earn enough ranking points to qualify for Augusta.

Rory McIlroy, who likes the time off going into Augusta, could very well rethink that next year and come to Houston, along with many other European stars.

The question is whether as many fans will come out.

Clearly, Tiger would be a big draw.

Easter Sunday with Tiger in the hunt at the Shell Houston Open? That could be fun.

• • •

Speaking of sports on Easter, I saw where some believed that the holiday was the reason for the Astros’ poor attendance last Sunday.

They drew a record-low of only 14,195, which was significantly lower than the previous worst crowd at Minute Maid. Houston drew 18,594 against the Reds on April 8, 2003.

But Easter didn’t hurt attendance in 2007, when the Astros had 36,273 on hand for the Cardinals, or in 2000 when 38,695 against the Padres. Even in the last year at the Astrodome, the Astros had a huge crowd on Easter Sunday, with 29,063 there on April 4, for a game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

This could be a tough season attendance-wise. That is understandable, considering they are coming off the franchise’s worst record ever and prospects for rapid improvement are not high.

Jim Crane and Co. have a lot of work to do to bring people back to baseball.

67 Responses

Getting to watch Tiger now is like getting to see Jordan in a Wizard’s jersey; it just isn’t the same guy. He still has the name so the media will hype him and people will still follow the name, but the game doesn’t match. It just isn’t as big of a deal as it would’ve been say 3 years ago.

Crane will learn just like the other owners did; win and we’ll come. The Texans got a bit of a pass because this is Texas and we’d just been through a football drought, but the Astros are a different story. If he has a 3 year plan as he says then in year 3 he’ll start to see his attendance rise. Paying to see that AAA team is basically like throwing money in the trash. It had nothing to do with it being Easter.

The reasons I just stated I’m guessing is the reason the Rockets refuse to do what needs to be done and just lose. From an owners perspective it is better to be mediocre with some money coming in than suck completely and go broke for a season or so. If they were going to do it a shortened season would’ve been the time. Now we watch as they tease us with what they could be and what they really are. A team that can go on the road and beat some of the best teams in the league and come home and lay an egg against a team outside the playoffs trying to get in.

I would HIGHLY disagree there, 1st off, the worst age for a PGA golfer is mid-30, 90%+ struggle the most at this time than any other age and Tiger is 36 I think. 2nd, its Tiger Woods, he will draw incredibly well which is great for that tourney and for Houston. Tiger has a solid 12-15 YEARS left for competing, in basketball years that’s relative to Jordan being 30. Just because hes struggling now does not mean he cant get it back. I assure u he will win many more majors, not even a question in my opinion

You’re right. Thought I wrote that it was his first appearance at the Shell Houston Open. Combined thoughts about his appaearance here as an amateur and the possibility of his playing at the SHO in a full-field event for the first time got mixed up in the editing.

Yeah, I know. That’s why there are always so many corrections on stories that I write. Oh, wait, there I go again, being inaccuracte. There aren’t many corrections written on my stories because I value accuracy. Methinks I have had three or four in the last 15 years. So I was wrong about being wrong. Is that wrong or am I mocking you? Is mocking you wrong? Probably, since it is likely you’ve been mocked all your life and deserve our pity. So, erase all of that and let me start over. I feel for you tim o, for so often thinking up is down and right is wrong and accurate is inaccurate.

That article stated that advanced ticket sales were up 35% before he announced he was playing there. Overall, attendance was up 45%. So, Tiger may have been responsible for 10%? Not too significant. I just don’t see a whole lot of people suddenly deciding to go to the SHO because Tiger is there. But, I could be wrong. Like Augusta letting you play there when I’ll never have a chance. I’d consider going back to school and getting a journalism degree. I’d even march in Occupy Wall Street protests, poop on police cars, burn the American flag, whatever it takes to get me in the door of a mainstream news outlet…just to have the chance to cover the Masters and get my name in the pool!

Oh, you think I was chosen simply because I am a journalist? My greatness had nothing to do with it? … And, believe it, Tiger moves the needle significantly. TV ratings go up when he is in a tournament, and more people typically attend a tournament when he is in the field, because people want to see the guy play. The number of Houstonians who have never seen him play in person would make his appearance a big deal.

this would have been a big deal 10 years ago.
now he is just another washed up loser who has won one tournament in the 2.5 years.
i could care less and the more tiger i see during a golf tournament the faster i change the channel.

This would be awesome if Tiger comes to the SHO, I have been waiting forever for Tiger to come here and play and he would probably draw all the other big time names to join him as well, it would be a great field and tournament and I don’t know what’s with all you Tiger haters you know you would be the first ones in line to get tickets to see the great Tiger Woods, I know I would along with most of Houston.

the media must be on tigers payroll. he’s in his mid 30s and throwing temper tantrums as well as clubs. the people that would follow him probably are not golf fans so much. yes, he’d draw, but not for the sake of golf. everyone enjoys a train wreck and that tw stands for. she sho will be hurting for names next year.

Yeah, right. It’s 5-1 with people who care if Tiger Woods plays in a golf tournament he has never played in vs. people that don’t care. I like how you calculate odds. Want to play some poker? Your math genius would give you a huge advantage.

They weren’t odds. All I did was counted the replies on this blog. At the time I posted, 5 could care less if Tiger is in the Shell Houston. 2 said they’d be excited….and 1 of those 2 were you. So yes….. 5-1. Nobody cares.

Oh I play. And I follow the sport. I’m just lousy and i know it. All I did was counted the responses. And sure, you are correct, some still care about Tiger. But counting the responses on here most don’t. I just want to play some poker.

Hahaha. I’m always down for some poker. I love the challenge of playing aginst better players, but I do prefer to play with people who can’t count. I’ll assume your ciphering is better than Jethro’s. … lol … That said, you can’t count responses in these type forums. Crazy people are always the loudest. Guarantee you if Tiger says he is playing in Houston, ticket sales would increase dramatically.

JS just curious, have you ever met Tiger and if so what kind of guy is he? I saw an interview with his good friend Darius Rucker and he sounds like a he has a pretty good sense of humor if you get to know him. The whole hooker/marriage breakup thing really did a number on him, but I think he will always be a big draw on the links circuit.

Yes, I have met him. I’ve never spent any casual time with him, so I can’t say what kind of guy he is. I know he is an all-time great golfer. An all-time great competitor. From what I have seen, he is intelligent, humorous and certainly complex. What stands out the most though is what he can do on a golf course. Special.

Jerome, I was with you the whole way my man, but complex??? Just because he has/had better focus, determination and skill than anyone else on the golf course and then happened to let everyone know he let his little tiger dominate decisions off the golf course does not make the man complex. From what he lets people know, he’s cheap and petty and quite an azz when he’s not winning golf tourneys or playing well. Seems a little simple to me. If you get a chance I’d like to know what you meant by that. I might be missing the point.

I find great competitors are often complex. You say from what you know he is cheap. I say he have given millions to children through his charity and other donations. You say he is a jerk, I say he is as attentive in children’s clinics as any golfer on the planet, giving time to helping boys and girls learn the game. Time not many are willing to give. He might not sign a heck of a lot of autographs, but he’ll stay on a driving range for hours helping young people work on their swing. He is better in those situations than most others. I have talked to people who know Tiger very well. Players who like him and players who don’t. People who have worked for him and with him. The most common word they use to describe him is complex. I take their word for it.

The whole breathless…TIGER might play Houston…OMG up to this point the whole Houston golf world has been in some deep deprivation…Jeez louise…I would much rather see Mickelson or Bubba or any of a dozen or so good golfers who do not think that they are simply entitled to win…that the whole golf world doesn’t have to fall down and roll over because Tiger is here! The fact remains that he is on the straight path to being a has been…as far as him winning many more major tournaments as another poster has suggested…put your money down…I think you will lose.

He thinks he is entitled to win? Really? Is that why he worked as hard or harder than anybody else on the tour? Ask Bubba why he is a better player now than before, and he’ll tell you it’s partly because Woods told him he needed to take the game more seriously. As Mickelson why he is abetter player than before and he’ll tell you it’s because Woods raised the bar. Oh yeah, he is terrible.

DJenks, you say the worse time for a golfer is mid 30s which is Tiger’s age group. You say they struggle at this time. I haven’t studied it but I’ll just take your word for it for the sake of argument. As of right now, at this point in Tiger’s career, post sex addiction rehab, Tiger is just like every other golfer. He will draw because of his name, but his game isn’t at the level that built his rep.

As much as you like Tiger I don’t think you will argue that last point. If he ever gets back to his former level is yet to be seen. I won’t hold my breath and I suggest you don’t either. His issues are in his head and he hasn’t recovered with this much time passed so who is to truly say he has 12 years left at a top level. I wouldn’t. This isn’t #1 in the world Tiger Woods. This is trying to drag himself off the turf Tiger, who seems to take a step forward and a step back continually.

I can see where this would be a big deal to anyone who values “sports watching” above integrity, but count me among those who can’t care less whether Tiger Woods comes to play in Houston. I have encountered him a few times over his golfing career, he is arrogant and in reality has no use for fans. He is one of those who fails to clearly acknowledge that without fans, there would be no big money in the game. I don’t hate anyone, but if Tiger never won another “major” that would be great karma for having cheated so badly and repeatedly on his family. Tiger Woods is a punk, I have no use for punks.

Considering he never plays the Shell because it is right before the Masters…..he might consider playing it now since it is 2 weeks after…..what else does he have to do. I bet all the big names play here ….the course is set up great. If you build a great course….they will come and play it…….

I have my doubts about Tiger coming to Houston … could happen, but we’ll have to see. He has not played in Texas since 2005 (I think) … with 4 events per year (Colonial, Las Colinas, San Anton & Houston) there have been plenty of opportunities to do so. Maybe the fluke scheduling around the Masters will do the trick in ’13, but it does not seem to have been his MO.

But there is another reason we’ve only seen Tiger in Houston as a pro at the old Tour Championship. At the beginning of his pro career, CBS scheduled an interview with him at Lochinvar, but the club would not let him in, so the interview took place outside the gate.

I wouldn’t want to come to Houston either after that experience, so I don’t expect that he will, since I’m sure he has not forgotten the humiliation. Don’t believe me? Do your own research. It happened according to my sources.

Never heard that story. Pretty easy to verify, though. I could believe that the club would not allow CBS to come onto the property to do an interview. I am pretty certain it isn’t true that it wouldn’t allow Tiger onto the property. And that would have nothing to do with why he hasn’t played the Shell.

Good ol’ boy or not … they have let me in there and I am what my white buddies call NOT of the caucasian persuasion. The club has black members. And I know that Tiger practiced there when his instructor worked there. So his not beling allowed on the course there makes little sense. Sorry. Obviously, this isn’t a high priority for me, since I think it is hogwash, but I’ll check.

bob,
wrong.
lochinvar was where he first met butch. he took lessons there.
cbs was not allowed on the property because they sent a female reporter.
remember lochinvar is men only.
he played in the tour championship at champions.
he played an amateur tourney at the old houston open woodlands course, it did not set up well for him and he didn’t come back.
when they moved the tournament, houston just never fit into his schedule. for the most part, the tourney was several weeks AFTER the masters. nobody came.

Butch Harmon was director of golf at Lochinvar while teaching Tiger. Tiger has been there countless times. If an interview had to be conducted at the gates of the club, it was the CBS crew that was not allowed in – not Tiger.

d jenks,
“tiger has 12-16 years left”
tiger is 36, a very old “golf 36″. if he has that much time, tell me anybody competitive in their fifties. watson got hot one week, freddie gets hot a couple of rounds.
tiger will win, but for the most part he is done.
he has never been a good consistent ball striker. he can’t come from behind and win. the young guns are not afraid of him like the players were when he first came out.
tiger won his majors by putting. nobody can match his putting from 97-02. he made everything he looked at. he can’t put anymore. this started before his personal problems.
johnny miller made the comment years ago,”you only have so many putts in you”, and tiger is “an old golfer”.

I’m not a big fan of Tiger, and wasn’t of Jordan. Doesn’t stop them from being the best at what they do. Thought about that a fair amount; why some stars and not others? I guess that is what makes us all unique. A freind of mine’s son was the same age as Tiger and went to a national Jr. tournament Tiger was also in way back when. When his son was done practicing he took him out to the 17th(?) hole, where he had heard Tiger and his dad were still working. They had a bench set up and were doing various chipping drills. The point my buddy was trying to make to his son was that the great ones earned it; beyond the driving range and into the evening. His son worked hard and turned golf into an education. Last I heard they both profited from lessons learned that day…

This guy is washed up. I’ve seen him in Houston every time he has been here which goes back to the U.S. Am. I would rather see Rory or Bubba. Tiger doesn’t give back. He just plays and leaves and stiffs the guys working in the locker room. Good ridance.

tiger miscalculated this year. after his win, he thought he was back (as did a lot of people) but he needed that weekend in houston to work out the kinks left in his game. he couldv’e kicked his clubs at redstone instead of augusta. i’m glad to see him kicking clubs and cussing when he messes up. thats what happened to his game–those psyhes tried to make a kinder gentler tiger and all they made was someone who couldn’t play golf anymore

Winston, I agree 100% about Tiger kicking his clubs. After his whole mess he got so focused on trying to repair his image that he stopped putting all his focus on simply playing the game. You can’t be your best when half your focus is on the people watching you. The sooner he completely does away with damage control and simply focuses on the game and the game alone is when he can start being himself again if that person still exist.

He should’ve talked to Kobe. When he had his issues and people turned on him, he went through the damage control crap for a while. But it seems there came a point that he said screw it and embraced people hating him. Almost like a bad guy in wrestling or something. If he would’ve just admitted that he wasn’t ready for marriage, said a apology to his wife, and became a happy bachelor most people would’ve understood and it would not be as big of an issue. The people who use that as a reason to hate him will not change their stance regardless of what he says or does. But you don’t have to be liked to be respected and if he went out there and won his personal life wouldn’t matter as much.

I know what people think of Woods, and I agree. As a person, he has proven to be something of a scumbag. But as a golfer, he is still one of the top players in the game, and maybe in the history of the game. As a golf fan, I will definitely be getting tickets early for the 2013 SHO!! Just the chance to see Woods is worth getting those tickets way in advance. My son and I have gone to 9 straight SHO touneys, since he was 6 years old. We have talked about what it would be like if Tiger ever did come. Next year, it may finally happen. 2 weeks before the Masters, conditions that have been worked to duplicate Augusta as closely as possible, an excellent, well received, top flight tournement that always gets great reviews from the players. Yea, better get those tickets as soon as they are available!!!